A 33-year-old Serbian man was remanded in custody after he pleaded not guilty to carrying out two thefts, to being in possession of unauthorised objects including tear gas and to driving without insurance.

Dejan Petkovic was arrested during a road block in Swieqi on the night between Monday and Tuesday, and found to be driving a BMW with a Bulgarian registration plate which was not covered by an insurance policy.

A search of the car revealed that he was in possession of tear gas canisters and a butterfly knife.

But Mr Petkovic was also implicated in two thefts. He was accused of breaking into vending machines at a Qawra kiosk on the night between 19 and 20 January, making off with cash, cigarettes and beverages.

He was also accused of stealing various objects from a St Julians apartment on the night between 25 and 26 October, 2013.

When asked whether he would plead guilty or not guilty, Mr Petkovic said that he was guilty of some of the charges but not guilty of others. When told that he could only plead guilty or not guilty to all the charges he was accused of, he filed a not guilty plea.

Legal aid lawyer Joseph Mizzi asked for bail, but the prosecution objected to the request, arguing that Mr Petkovic had no ties to Malta, no fixed residence in the country and was not trustworthy.

But Dr Mizzi countered that his client came to Malta to visit a Serbian friend who was married to a Maltese woman, and that he was seeking to obtain a work permit after finding employment in the construction industry.

He also noted that Mr Petkovic had come to Malta in the past, working as an assistant football coach during 2013.

However, Magistrate Marse-Ann Farrugia accepted the prosecution’s objections, stating that Mr Petkovic was a flight risk due to his lack of ties to Malta and the lack of a fixed address. She thus denied him bail.

 

Inspectors James Grech and Carol Fabri prosecuted.